House / pack rules for puppy - what are yours?

[Julie Stårvik]

Ever since day three Marvel has been testing us, and it's quite clear when or how he does it, so we are trying to be stritct with rules in the house.
I never had the need for this with my two other dogs as they were not bully/mastiff breeds and alot softer.

I got some tips in the chat last night which I'm already practising so I thought I'd see if there is more I can pick up from here.

Our current rules and how we deal with things:
- Not allowed on sofa or puff (if he jumps up we remove him in a calm way and tell him no, if he does it again he gets a timeout, this seems to be working as he is less intense and doesn't try to "fight" to get back up)
- Has to wait and sit before leaving the front door
- Sit and wait for food bowl (we also lift it up sometimes when he eats and then give it back)
- Biting on plants = same as with the sofa
- Never gets food from plates or when we are eating
-Sleeps in a big crate in the bedroom as we eventually want him to sleep in the bedroom, but without a crate.

- "Stalking and jumping" = straight into timeout as it is a very unpleasant behaviour (you know when they crouch down, stare intensely and try to sneak up and then jump onto their "prey").
- Barking in the garden is forbidden (when he gets excited)

I also mentioned in the chat last night that he humps my leg (he started doing it after about 3 days at home, 10 weeks old), and not my OH's. So this is clearly a test of me. The advice I got was to get him off and into a sit and wait. So I've started doing that today. I will let you know how this goes!
Lee: I tried the nose thing we were talking about but it went straight over his head. I think if I add any more strength to it it will be more like a punch than a slap, so either I'm doing it wrong or he is not affected by it.

I also try to withhold affection a little bit more, make sure I make him come to me when I want to pet and cuddle him, not sit on the floor with him all the time etc.

This makes him look like a right scumbag but he also has his good sides, lol. Just want to make sure we do the right thing and handle the unwanted behaiour :) .

[Sherry Seal]

Julie,thanks for sharing your challenges with house rules. I will be getting my first boerboel pup soon & I am trying to get as much advice as I can. Where do you put your pup for timeout & for how long?

[Julie Stårvik]

No problem, I'm sure lots of people have some I haven't thought about too!

Just first want to say that our puppy is not anxious about being left for a little while for example in the kitchen, so just make sure your puppy doesn't have separation anxiety etc.
We started with sticking him in the kitchen for a short period of time, maybe 10 seconds, then let him back out. It just basically need to be however long you think it takes for the dog to calm down.
Then after a while we didn't feel like the kitchen was "boring enough" for him, so we attached a very short leash to a storage box under the stairs, so he can see us but not do anything (he finds this worse than getting to be alone in the kitchen). He goes on it and doesn't come off until he either sits nicely still or lies down.

Probably hundreds of methods you can use but this works for us (at least so far!) :) .
I know some people use a crate for timeout, we are not doing it for two reasons A; his crate is in the bedroom and not convenient (needs to be very quick after he displays the unwanted behaviour, carrying him upstairs would take the point away), B; I want his crate to be a place for comfort and sleep and not to be shut in there for punishment.

[Lisa Tiro]

He's just a puppy and they all test us from time to time. That list looks pretty good. I have a male also and although he has never tried to mount me, he has tried with others like my husband for instance who is not a strong pack leader. He is a push over type and is learning the hard way that being firm with them and giving them limits is not being mean. The humping is a dominance thing so you need to put an end to it immediately. Don't sit on the floor with him because then he views you at his height and as an equal. Always stand or sit in a chair when patting him or whatever. I would give him a firm NO! and say OFF when he does it. Then distract him with a toy. Like I say go get your toy so that he learns that's the way to please you and interact with you. If Axel gets too rambuctious and won't calm down I just say KENNEL in a happy voice and he runs into his kennel and has a time out until he's calm. It's not a punishment, just a time to chill out. Of course my husband doesn't say it like I do because he gets easily frustrated but it should be given as a command and not said in a mean or angry voice. He even puts himself in there sometimes when he's acting up lol....We don't let him on any furniture either. Another thing I have done with my boy from day 1 was when he comes over to me when I come home or in the room I do not pet him unless he is sitting nicely. I just wait, I don't even have to say it and after he is done wagging his tail he sits and waits to be greeted. This is the best thing I have taught him. I don't get mauled at the door lol...I don't believe in withholding affection. I think that is how we build a trusting relationship with them. I give it all day long as long as he is calm and obedient. Good luck!

[Marco]

Thanks for the post Julie, and all who responded.  I will try and add something soon as well.